Tom Cole: “I thank my friend for the amendment. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the fact that the safety of individuals who…”

“I thank my friend for the amendment. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the fact that the safety of individuals who sleep in single-gender shelters is of the utmost importance. It doesn't mean provisions cannot be provided elsewhere for other individuals, but in this case, we need to ensure that people are both comfortable in their surroundings and are protected as they are coming out of difficult situations. The proposal also puts burdens on religious organizations who might feel differently about gender identity than the current administration. Mr. Chairman, I urge a ``yes'' vote on this amendment.”